Why did CBS snag FBI instead of letting NBC keep it? Details explored 

Presumably you might have wondered why Dick Wolf, the man behind Law & Order (various versions thereof) and the Chicago shows on NBC, switched to CBS to air his show FBI. The answer is actually quite simple: timings, fits, and what each network needed.

Wolf had been in the process of thinking of an FBI show over the years. At some point, he even considered an FBI character introduction via the Law & Order: SVU (on NBC) but this did not come into materialization. The next time he was pitching the idea of the FBI, CBS pounced on it immediately. The network ordered the show straight to a series in September 2017, bypassing the pilot stage and going straight to production.

It was a decision that came in handy.That was a fast action and it paid off. CBS provided the series a good position on its roster and promoted it as spectacularly as Wolf procedurals thrive. At that time NBC did not have the perfect schedule while CBS was in a strong need of reliable dramas and that is where the new show by Wolf, FBI, fit quite well.

Wolf's relationship with NBC

Dick Wolf and NBC have an unbelievable history together. Their partnership dates back to the year 1990, when Law & Order first premiered on NBC after the network took its chance on the show despite the doubts held by some executives.

In 2016 they signed an extension through 2020, bolstering both SVU and the ever-growing Chicago franchise on the network. Then, in 2020, the collaboration achieved new heights as the parties entered a huge multi-year which also gave Peacock the streaming rights to his franchises.

Why Wolf chose to air FBI on CBS over NBC

The idea of developing the series FBI had been in the air as early as during the days of SVU. Wolf once even considered adding an FBI agent to the Law & Order: SVU universe which could have led to a spin-off on NBC. That plan, however, did not work out and Wolf's idea lay dormant for quite some time as shows are often passed upon due to factors such as timing, creative direction or strategy.

Wolf pitched the idea to CBS by 2017, where FBI received a straight-to-series order of 13 episodes, a very quick reaction in contrast to the typical pilot-to-series production. This ensured commitment that otherwise would have been impossible with NBC’s schedule.

Smart business

More than what we see on television, the other factors to producing a show is smart business strategies: who owns it, who funds it, and what kind of deals a producer can command. FBI was produced by Dick Wolf through his organization named Wolf Entertainment with studios that suit the airing on CBS platform. This eased the process of production and distribution.

CBS has been fond of procedural shows owing to the fact that they perform better in reruns and on streaming, which have stable income. This explains why CBS was ready to order high amounts of episodes in advance. That was a major benefit in Wolf's favor, since he is both, a storyteller and a producer.

Wolf did not betray his former allies with NBC by his selection of CBS since he had already established strong ties in the industry and already had a track record of successful shows. Additionally, the show was also a co-production with NBC bringing business to both Wolf and the studio.

So it was just good business: he went with the network that would do the most to make his show, FBI work.

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